Man at centre of 'gay cake' case bearing heavy burden, court told

The man at the centre of the "gay cake" case is bearing a "heavy burden" because of the legal battle, his lawyer said.
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The Christian owners of Ashers Bakery were found to have discriminated by refusing to make a product iced with the slogan Support Gay Marriage.

The order was placed by gay rights activist Gareth Lee in May 2014 and was the subject of a Supreme Court appeal in Belfast this week.

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His barrister Robin Allen QC said: "This is what was a relatively small incident in his life which has become enormously significant and continues to be so.

Owner of Ashers Bakery Daniel McArthur (left) with Simon Calvert of the Christian Institute arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast where the Supreme Court is examining issues linked to the Ashers Baking Company "gay cake" case.Owner of Ashers Bakery Daniel McArthur (left) with Simon Calvert of the Christian Institute arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast where the Supreme Court is examining issues linked to the Ashers Baking Company "gay cake" case.
Owner of Ashers Bakery Daniel McArthur (left) with Simon Calvert of the Christian Institute arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast where the Supreme Court is examining issues linked to the Ashers Baking Company "gay cake" case.

"That is a heavy burden to bear for one individual."

The Ashers legal action has run for four years and attracted enormous attention.

The original case against the McArthur family, who own Ashers and enjoy the backing of the Christian Institute lobby group, was taken by Mr Lee with the support of Northern Ireland's Equality Commission.

The bakers lost in the lower courts.

Mr Allen said the Commission was seeking "legal certainty" and stepped in because only a millionaire could afford to litigate this case.

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"In the context of this case it is super-difficult because in relation to the provision of goods, facilities and services you are talking about a prohibition on discrimination on transactions which may range from a box of matches up to a long-term contract.

"In many cases, particularly true in a divided community, prohibition in relation to goods and services is a task which is difficult to police through a commission or litigation."

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK or Ireland where same-sex marriage is outlawed, with Theresa May's DUP allies staunch opponents.

Controversy first flared when Mr Lee, a member of the LGBT advocacy group Queer Space, requested a cake featuring Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie for a private function marking International Day Against Homophobia.

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His £36.50 order was accepted and he paid in full but, two days later, the company called to say it could not proceed due to the message requested.

Northern Ireland's attorney general John Larkin QC has said an earlier Court of Appeal ruling on Ashers was wrong.

Another lawyer representing Daniel and Amy McArthur, who own Ashers, has argued that the state is penalising the Belfast baking firm, with the courts effectively forcing them to make a cake whose message they disagree with as a matter of religious conscience.

Mr Larkin said: "Mr Lee does not have the right to compel Ashers to express a message to deliver content which is inconsistent with their religious beliefs."

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He added the McArthur family could avail of the European Convention on Human Rights to refuse to express a political opinion which was contrary to their religious beliefs, warning there was no objective or reasonable justification for interference.

He contended nothing in Northern Ireland constitutional law forced a choice between being the courier or conduit of a message to which they objected on religious grounds or exposure to civil liability in the courts.